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Life Saving Incident

February 22, 2007
Arizona
Maricopa County
Gilbert

When Gilbert police Sergeant Joe Amaya arrived, the 9-month-old girl was unconscious and not breathing, and a worried neighbor was leaning over the child. The baby, who was found floating in the bathtub on Feb. 22, 2007, had been left alone by her mother in the water with her 3-year-old sister. Sergeant Amaya began CPR with the help of the neighbor and the two kept the baby alive for several minutes before medical crews arrived. In many of these situations the outlook is grim. But the girl survived. For his heroics, Sergeant Amaya was nominated for the Lifesaver Award from the Arizona chapter of the National Latino Peace Officers Association. "I'm almost a little embarrassed," Amaya later said. "I'm just doing what I'm supposed to do. I'm sure there are many officers who would have done the same exact thing in that situation." However, that rescue was one of three times Sergeant Amaya saved a life in 2007. In fact, during the same month, he helped save another infant. A 2-month-old baby was found lying on the floor without a pulse. Sergeant Amaya and another officer were the first to arrive. The two performed CPR on the child until paramedics arrived. In November 2007 Sergeant Amaya saved a 57-year-old man who was attempting suicide by pulling him out of his car in a garage filled with carbon monoxide fumes. Regarding the nomination Sergeant Amaya said, "I am thankful and appreciative. Oftentimes, it can be a thankless job and the rewards are nice. But once in a while, you get a chance to do something like this, and the end result is what makes it worthwhile."

The history of law enforcement in the United States is a long and wonderful history of bravery. This website is dedicated to documenting the heroic deeds of law enforcement officers throughout the United States who have either given or risked their lives to save others. There are many stories of bravery and heroism for many who are considered first responders. However, it is those in law enforcement who are most likely to be the first to arrive upon a location requiring life saving acts engaging dangerous hostage takers, running into burning buildings/vehicles, providing first aid to seriously injured victims, saving near drowning victims and much more are what the women and men of law enforcement do routinely and at many times, great peril to their own safety.
It is our mission to document the history of lives saved by those dedicated women and men in law enforcement. To share with others the dramatic deeds of those individuals who are the first, first responders. It is so important for our citizens to understand that law "enforcement" is not always about enforcing the law but rather being there when our citizens need us.
It is to this end we are dedicated to promoting documentation regarding the history of law enforcement and the lives they have saved.